Bike Protection Help

Sorry? keeping it outside in South Africa tonight means buying another one tomorrow. In Zimbabwe I used to have one that I could quick release the wheels, and seat for quick packing behind my desk. A short sword for the trip home in the evenings. (no fuel meant that bikes were serious targets).
 
In the cities, some folks buy a good quality mountain bike -- then make it look like crap by spraypainting it and putting tape on the seat and handlebars so as to dissuade thieves. A "Kryptonite" lock and heavy duty chain will make it semi-theft proof.
 
Tim-Gabz said:
Sorry? keeping it outside in South Africa tonight means buying another one tomorrow. In Zimbabwe I used to have one that I could quick release the wheels, and seat for quick packing behind my desk. A short sword for the trip home in the evenings. (no fuel meant that bikes were serious targets).
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I live in Canada. I have been keeping my bike outside for the last 10 years (except winter time) and it has not suffered any significant damage, there have been about 6 attempts to steal it (none successful), 4 of them in the last year (such a sudden upswing has me a tad concerned, but then I've just moved to the Meth capital of Ontario so perhaps that is why). I know a different country and a different situation.

What I'm looking for is a way of getting evidence on bicycle thieves and turning it over to the police. I don't care about clothing, locks, or suggestions to bring it inside.
 
tyr_shadowblade said:
In the cities, some folks buy a good quality mountain bike -- then make it look like crap by spraypainting it and putting tape on the seat and handlebars so as to dissuade thieves. A "Kryptonite" lock and heavy duty chain will make it semi-theft proof.
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Interesting but my bike cost me $100 so it does look like crap already. I already have a lock that is so good the manufacturer will pay up to $500 to replace your bike if the lock is defeated.

What I'm looking for is a way of getting evidence on bicycle thieves and turning it over to the police. I don't care about clothing, locks, or suggestions to bring it inside.
 
It's easy to see carrying a $100 bike up three flights of stairs every day is not an option. You would need a much lighter bike if you were going to do that, and it must be hard to save up for a bike upgrade when you keep getting vandalized.

I wonder ... You know when you rob a bank these days they give you a bag of money with a dye bomb in it. A couple minutes after you leave it explodes and you (and the money) are all covered in dye that doesn't wash off; you're going to stay purple (or whatever) until the outer layer of your skin wears off and gets replaced. That is a considerable aid to the police who are looking for you.

I don't know where you could buy a dye bomb like that, but I haven't looked.
 
can you see your bike from your balcony or apartment? If so you might try setting a camera up on your balcony instead of on the bike and getting them that way. I would think it would be cheaper that way too!
 
+1 on the deer camera. Only problem with one is where you put it might make the camera itself subject to theft. Next option would be a computer camera set up in an apartment window overlooking the bike rack, then just have it set to take a pic every minute or so, then each night just delete all the pics from the computer if nothing happened that day.
 
Cougar Allen said:
I don't know where you could buy a dye bomb like that, but I haven't looked.
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Unfortunately, two things are true. First, those packs would cost more than the bike they'd be protecting. Second, the bank dye pack systems are actually an elaborate system involving a magnetic coil concealed in the doorframe of the bank which activates the dye pack as it goes through. Several years ago, a bank here in Sherwood forgot to turn off the activator coil as money bags were being taken to an armored car outside (they normally serviced the armored car through a side door which did not have the activator, but that door was unavailable that day due to a large hole dug to fix a sewer malfunction.) One of the money bags accidental had a smoke bomb version of the dye pack technology in it. You can imagine what happened as the armored car drove away.
 
raythebigfoot said:
can you see your bike from your balcony or apartment? If so you might try setting a camera up on your balcony instead of on the bike and getting them that way. I would think it would be cheaper that way too!
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I'd love to be able to do that, but the angle isn't so good, the distance is a bit far and there is a rather large Maple tree in the way (though once it loses all of its leaves that will be less of a problem).
 
Andrew Taylor said:
Joe Shredd

I like your style :)
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Thanks! :D

But along the same lines - I read far too much Sci-Fi... In one, in San Fran, in the not too distant future, bike messengers have figured out how to use the spinning of their wheels to build up a static charge in some sort of capacitor. When they park it, they flip a switch and charge the frame with a static charge. Touch the frame, and Viola! IIRC, they discharge it somehow to prevent it from getting shocked themselves by touching the tire... Not being an engineer, nor electically knowledgable... Maybe it's time for Sci-Fi to meet reality!?! :o

:D
 
joeshredd said:
Thanks! :D

But along the same lines - I read far too much Sci-Fi... In one, in San Fran, in the not too distant future, bike messengers have figured out how to use the spinning of their wheels to build up a static charge in some sort of capacitor. When they park it, they flip a switch and charge the frame with a static charge. Touch the frame, and Viola! IIRC, they discharge it somehow to prevent it from getting shocked themselves by touching the tire... Not being an engineer, nor electically knowledgable... Maybe it's time for Sci-Fi to meet reality!?! :o

:D
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Sounds awfully easy to do even now days. Take the biggest capacitor you can buy, wire up a magnetic coil from those shaker flashlight, and you are good to go.

hell just take a circuit out of a disposable camera, a single AA cell would last you a long time. I made a spider shocker out of those a long time ago and the charge was strong enouge to melt small pits on face of penny when discharged across it.
 
The best thing you've already been told is TAKE YOUR BIKE INSIDE. Duh...

Otherwise, maybe you could use your bike as bait under a deadfall. Or maybe you could run a 220 volt line out to it. :D
 
What I'm looking for is a way of getting evidence on bicycle thieves and turning it over to the police. I don't care about clothing, locks, or suggestions to bring it inside.
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I get it. You've got a cheap bike that hasn't been stolen and you want evidence to take to the police.

Have you talked to the police or the prosecutor in your area and asked them for advice on how you can help prevent crime or apprehend those involved?
 
They have a system for providing a truck's door handle with a Tazer effect to stop truck jackers. A friend had them on his fleet until he accidently took a bolt handing the driver a clipboard as he was leaving. What was often cause for humour was no longer funny. Doing that to a bike would invite self inflicted voltage nevermind the odd casual pedestian having an unexpected brief exciting experience. It would, however be great in teaching casual pooches not to pee on bikes.

I used to cycle with a group to and from university and there some humerous twit thought a slight loosening of the front wheel would be funny. One cylist croppered going over a speed hump down hill and ended up in hospital for a few days. The 3rd year culprit was expelled from varsity taking with him some serious bills and no subject credits.

When working in Zim keeping my bike behind my desk or in the printing room stopped funny business although I still do a visual check of what ever I climb into or on before setting off. Fond memories of going down the fire escape during a powerfailure, 6 floors without getting off. It would have been easier to carry but not as much fun.
 
Best - A thremo nuke w/ remote.;)
Like posted. The remote game cam with no flash,but remember we're dealing with thieves...If you want to catch em,Use the right bait.Get some buddies (7 to 10 ) & with nice bikes,make a fuss when leaving the bikes behind for attraction :D. lay low in a hide.be sure to have fast, effective shock & awe when the trap is been hit. Good luck remember the 3 S's - Shoot,shovel,SSHHHHhhh.:eek:
 
I was talking to a guy at work and he used to have to ride a bike on campus all the time as he never drew a parking permit, after his second or third bike was stolen, he bought some cheap pedals, and hacksawed all the threads off, and then used some quick set epoxy to lightly fasten the pedals to the crank.

He set his replacement bike out and locked the bike up but kept his window open. About an hour later he heard a hellacious racket and ran out to find said bike thief laying on the ground, clutching his nether region in pain. Apparently the thief had picked the lock, and then tried to make haste in leaving the seen by standing up to get full leverage on the pedals, which promptly fell off and gravity promptly drove his wedding tackle full speed into the top bar. When the police arrived to take the thief for a free ride in the squad car, it was apparent he had also hit his head(numerous times) and broken his fingers in the fall......:rolleyes:
 
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